Wrapping machine



June 5, 1962 J. T. HOFFMANN- ETAL 3,037,336

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JCWANNES rmusarr HOFFMAN/V KAS/M/R HOFFMAA/N mm M 5M Armeusrs June 1962 J. T. HOFFMANN ETAL 3,037,335

WRAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2, 1959 INVENTORS 72 a JOHANNES 7mm; 0T7 l-IOFFMANN KAS/M/R HOFFMANN BY M FIG. 8

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United States Patent 3,037,336 WRAPPING MACHINE Johannes Traugott Holrmann, Bruchsal, and KasiminHofimann, Forst, Kreis Bruchsal, Baden, Germany, assignors to Standardwerk Eugen Reis G.m.b.H., Bruchsal, Germany, a German company Filed July 2, 1955, Ser. No. 824,631 Claims priority, application Germany July 8, 1958 11 Claims. (Cl. 53-212) The present invention relates to machines for wrapping stacks of coins and other articles of fiat or cylindrical configurations with one or several layers of a suitable pliable wrapping material such as paper, plastic sheets, metal foil, etc. and also to machines for forming empty self-supporting wrappers, and more particularly to an assembly for directing or inserting a web of wrapping material into the wrapping assembly or unit of the machines.

In connection with the mechanization of office work and related business operations, the .automatic counting and wrapping of coins is becoming of ever greater importance. Generally, identical coins are counted out by a coin counting machine in desired quantities such as 20, 25, 40, 50 etc. .and the coins are then stacked to form vertical or horizontal stacks of coins. The stacks thus formed are transported together with a web of wrapping material, such as paper, into the wrapping assembly or unit of .a wrapping machine. Wrapping machines as known for the purpose and in general use, generally comprise two or more stationarily but rotatable mounted wrapping rollers and a guide roller which is mounted pivotal or swingable parallel of its longitudinal axis. The web of wrapping paper is then placed against the stack of coins partly encircling the same and wrapping rollers are rotated to form a tube shaped Wrapper of one or several layers of wrapping material. The paper extending beyond the two ends of the stack is turned inwardly or beaded by means of an appropriate beading assembly generally including two hooks which are moved in and out at the appropriate stage of the sequence of wrapping operations. In this manner, firm beads are formed at both ends of the stack which hold the coins firmly together so that removal of one or several coins from the stack is not possible without visible damage to the roll. The web of paper or other wrapping material used for the wrapping of the articles is supplied from a pile of pre-cut pieces of paper, or torn off from a roll of paper by guiding the web over an adjustable cutter.

In order to effect a trouble-free Wrapping of a stack of coins or other article, the paper must be introduced into the wrapping unit of the machine together with the stack of coins so that it protrudes from the stack approximately the same distance on both ends thereof and is then inserted or directed deeply into a gap defined between the stack to be wrapped and a web portion placed in front of the periphery of the first wrapping roller as seen in the direction of travel of the web into the wrapping unit while the wrapping unit is closed for the wrapping operation after having been opened for the insertion of a stack to be wrapped. In other words, the wrapping material must be inserted about the stack of coins before or at the moment the wrapping rollers begin to rotate to form the aforementioned Wrapper tube to assure that the rotating wrapping rollers will cause a rotation of the stack also with the wrapping paper between the rollers and the stack whereby the remaining length of the web used for the wrapping operation in progress is pulled into the wrapping unit and wrapped around the stack in the unit. If the used length of the web and more specifically the tip thereof were not guided into the aforesaid gap at the beginning of the wrapping operation, the still free portion of the web may take another path and usually run between the rolls to the outside. When such misdirection of the wrapping paper occurs, the stack of coins will be rotated without being wrapped in paper and the stack will fall apart after the pivotal guide roller is withdrawn in a later stage of the operation.

There are known in the art wrapping units or assemblies which cannot be adjusted and can hence be used only for Wrapping coins of one denomination, or at least of coins which have substantially the same diameter. For such non-adjustable wrapping units, the problem of reliably inserting the paper tip between the stack of coins on one side and the following paper portion at approximately one coin circumference between the tip of the paper and the wrapping roller behind it on the other side has been solved by an inserting or directing device which is supported by the last wrapping roller as seen in the direction of the paper travel. This last wrapping roller is usually pivotally or swingably mounted and the inserting device takes part in the swinging movement of the last wrapping roller before and after the insertion of the paper and the stack of coins. The inserting device generally includes a part with a curved or hollow surface on its side facing the coins whereby it extends a larger or smaller distance around the stack of coins on both sides of the last wrapping roller. It also extends to a position a short distance in front of the line at which the first wrapping roller as seen in the direction of the travel of the paper comes into engagement with the stack of coins. Inserting devices as just described, have one or more recesses through which passes the pivotal last wrapping roller to press against the stack of rolls covered by the wrapping paper. The inserting device must be at a short distance from the surface of the stack and such distance should be as uniform as possible at all points. The curvature of the paper inserting assembly, sometimes referred to as basket, must approximately correspond to the peripheral curvature of the coins to be wrapped. Hence, it is not possible to use a non-adjustable unit for wrapping of coins with the diameter of which varies substantially. Accordingly, wrapping machines as heretofore used, can be used only for wrapping one type of coins, or at least coins of substantially equal diameter. If coins of different diameter are to be wrapped, the entire wrapping assembly including the inserting assembly has to be changed and the wrapping rollers have to be adjusted. Such resetting of the machine for different coins require time and is inconvenient, the more so as the ultimate users of coin wrapping machines are not necessarily technically skilled. Furthermore, the costs of several wrapping assemblies and associated inserting assemblies are rather high. Also, the wrapping operation requires a rather strong mechanical force and it, due to an error, a stack of coins of the wrong diameter is inserted, the delicate inserting assembly will generally be bent out of shape or otherwise damaged.

Similar problems arise in connection with adjustable wrapping assemblies and also with wrapping machines for forming self-supporting, empty coin or other wrappers by beading one rim of the paper only, the second rim being turned over after the wrapper is filled with coins. More broadly, the problems outlined herein are present with all machines used for forming cylindrical hollow containers of paper and other suitable wrapping material if the diameter of the wrappers to be formed is to be changed by adjusting the parallel distance of the wrapping rollers from each other.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved web directing or inserting assembly for wrapping machines, wrapper making machines, etc. which assures an accurate and dependable guidance of the 3 wrapping material into a position in which it is gripped by the wrapping rollers of the wrapping assembly of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrapper material inserting assembly which can be used for coaction with wrapping assemblies for forming wrappers of different diameters.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrapper material inserting assembly which can be used in connection with wrapping machines and wrapper making machines which have either adjustable wrapping assemblies or non-adjustable wrapping assemblies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrapper material inserting assembly which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture and does not require any exchange or adjustment when the wrapping assembly of the machine is adjusted for different dimensions of the article to be wrapped, or the wrapper to be formed.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the wrapping unit of a coin wrapping machine comprising the inserting or directing assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 1, and showing the wrapping assembly and the inserting assembly in a more advanced stage of a wrapping operation.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1, and showing the wrapping assembly and the inserting assembly in a still more advanced stage of a wrapping operation.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one of the wrapping folders of the wrapping assembly and of the inserting assembly on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is an elevational side view, partly in section, of the inserting assembly.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the means for adjusting the wrapping rollers of the machine, and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the means for clamping a stack of coins therebetween.

To simplify the illustration, only those parts of the wrapping machine are shown in detail that are essential for the understanding of the invention. However, it should be understood that the machine is equipped with the usual drive and control means for operating and controlling the wrapping operations. It should be further understood that the stack of coins referred to in the subsequent specification may be replaced by a mandrel or core if an empty, self-supporting wrapper is to be formed.

The Wrapping Assembly The wrapping assembly or unit comprises two adjustable rotary rollers 10 and 12 and a rotatable guide roller 14, all disposed longitudinally parallel. Rollers 10 and 12 are referred to as first and second roller respectively in reference to the direction of travel of the web of paper and other wrapping material from a feed station. As mentioned before, more than two wrapping rollers may be used in the machine.

Rollers 10 and 12 are journalled at theier upper ends in levers 16 and 18 respectively and at the lower ends in corresponding levers 24 The support levers for the wrapping rollers terminate in mounting sleeves by means of which the levers are fixedly seated on shafts 22 and 24 respectively. Shafts 22 and 24 are rotatable and seat, in addition to the aforesaid levers, gear segments 26 and 28 which are fixedly secured to the shafts and in mesh with each other. By turning shafts 22 and 24 by means of the fine adjustment arrangement according to FIG. 7, the

longitudinal spacing of rollers 10 and 12 can thus be adjusted to accommodate stacks of coins or mandrels of different diameter. The adjustment arrangement of FIG. 7 is of generally conventional design. It comprises an arm secured on shaft 24 so that a rotation of arm 120 in the direction A will move rollers 10 and 12 further apart and a rotation in the direction B will bring two rollers closer together. Arm 120 may terminate in a pointer moving along a scale member 121 to facilitate the setting of rollers 10 and 12 in accordance with the diameter of the coins. The wrapping assembly further comprises a beading device 25 which is indicated by a rectangle only and should be visualized as comprising the conventional movable hook or claw assembly. The adjustment of the spacing of rollers 10 and 12 from each other should always be made in such a manner that the edge of a stack of coins fed into the wrapping assembly for wrapping therein has the same distance from beading means 25 for each adjustment of the wrapping rollers.

Guide roller 14 is similarly journalled at its upper and lower end in two arms 30. The free end of each arm 30 is mounted on an upright shaft 32 pivotally supported on one arm of upper and lower two-arm levers 34 which in turn are pivotally supported on shaft 24.

The assembly including guide roller 14, both pivot arms 30 and shaft 32 is held in the position shown in FIG. 1 by suitable loaded spring means such as a torsion spring and can be pivoted in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring about shaft 32. The other arms of both levers 34 are secured to an upright shaft 36. This shaft mounts at one intermediate portion a rotatable guide bush 38. Bush 38 is straddled by the two branches 44 of a bifurcated arm of a two-arm lever 40. Lever 40 is pivotal about a fixed pivot shaft 42 and carries on its other arm a roller 46 which forms a follower riding on a cam disc 43. A loaded spring 47 urges roller 46 into engagement with the camming surface of camming disc 48. The camming disc is fixedly seated on a shaft 50 which is rotary in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The Wrapping Material Feeding Assembly The feeding assembly of the machine is diagrammatically shown. It comprises feed rollers 52 and 54. The feed roller 52 is a driving roller and feed roller 54 is an idler mounted on upper and lower levers 62 pivotal about a shaft 60. Levers 62 can be pivoted in clockwise direction to permit insertion of a paper or other web 64 supplied to the machine from a suitable supply roll. As is apparent, rollers 52 and 54 serve to guide the web therebetween. Web 64 is guided past a curved guide 58 over a toothed paper knife or cutter '56 in the form of an obtuse wedge, the point of which is at 66. Knife 56 is supported by an arm 68 which is pivotal about shaft 22. As is apparent, the pivotal mounting of the knife permits adjustment of the length of the web which will be cut off, in accordance with the length required for a given diameter of the wrapper to be formed.

Wrapping rollers 10 and 12, shaft 50 and feed roller 52 are power driven whereas rollers 14 and 54 are idlers.

The drive means for the power driven rollers and shaft 50 are diagrammatically shown by a block and dashed lines which indicate mechanical or electrical connections between the power drive and the components to be driven. Block 150 should be visualized as also including suitable control means such as a cycle timer for starting and stopping the rollers and the shaft in a predetermined sequence and at predetermined time intervals. As pointed out before, the drive and control means as such do not constitute part of the invention and they should be visualized as being conventional.

The Article Feeding Assembly In the description, the article is generally referred to as a stack of coins, but as pointed out before, the assembly of the invention is suitable for wrapping other articles also, and further for forming empty, self-supporting wrappers of tubular shape. In the latter case, the wrapping is formed about a mandrel or core which is later on withdrawn by any suitable means, well known for the purpose.

The feeding assembly comprises an upper upright shaft 70 and a lower upright shaft 70 upon which are seated at a suitable longitudinal spacing an upper and a lower holding arm 72 and 72 respectively. The spacing of arms 72 may be adjustable to accommodate the article feeding assembly to articles or bodies to be wrapped of different heights. Each arm 72 and 72' has preferably at its free end an upwardly and downwardly respectively extending pin 74 and 74' respectively so that a stack of coins 76 can be clamped between the two arms. Arms 72 and 72 are urged toward each other by loaded springs 122 and 123, thus clamping the stack of coins 76 between pins 74 and 74. The arms may be spread by suitable and conventional means shown as racks 72a and 72a coacting with a worm 124. Clamping arrangements of this type are well known in the art and do not constitute part of the invention. Arms 72 and 72 and with it a stack of coins clamped therebetween may be pivoted in clockwise direction, either about shafts 70 and 70' or together with the shafts, from the position of FIG. 1 which is a loading position, into the wrapping position of FIG. 3.

Web Inserting Assembly The web inserting or directing assembly comprises a rotary upright shaft 80 to which is secured an inserting or directing member 78 shown in the form of a blade of considerably greater length than width. The blade is concavely curved in longitudinal direction as seen from the wrapping roller and may be tapered or wedgeshaped at its edge nearest to roller 10. Shaft 80 is supported at its upper and lower ends by brackets 82 and 84 in whichit is rotatable. A spacer rod 90 is provided at a small distance from shaft 80 parallel thereto. A spring means 86 shown as a torsion spring is mounted on shaft 80 and seeks to turn shaft 80 in clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6 into a position in which a limit pin 88 extending from shaft 80 abuts against a setsorew threaded through rod 90. This screw is so set that blade 78 occupies approximately the position shown in 'FIGS. 1 and 6. Brackets 82 and 84 are pivoted by means of screws 93 and 95 to extensions 94 and 96 of levers 16 and 20. The free end of bracket 82 is pivoted by means of a screw to a link 98 which in turn is pivotally connected to a second link 100. Link 100 is fixedly secured upon a shaft 102 which also fixedly seats a cam follower lever 104, the free end of which supports a follower roll 106. This roll rides on the camming surface of a cam disc 108 which is fixedly secured on shaft 50. A loaded tension spring 110 urges roll 106 into engagement with the camming surface of disc 108 and also biases by means of links 100 and 98 and bracket 82, blade 78 into the position shown in FIG. 1 in which position the blade is remote from wrapping roller 10 and which constitutes the withdrawn position of the blade.

The directing or inserting member 78 may alsobe in the form of a strip which is bent or not bent in horizontal direction and may be wider or narrower depending upon its distance from wrapping roller 10 during the wrapping operation. The strip may fold the web of wrapping material during the insertion thereof or insert it unfolded. The strip may have one or several extensions directed toward wrapping roller 12 during the wrapping opera-tion and extending, if necessary, through cut-outs in the sec- 0nd or last wrapping roller.

Member 78 may also take the form of a long thin roll disposed parallel to the wrapping rollers, or several such rollers may be provided in longitudinal arrangment.

In the exemplification shown, the inserting member assembly is mounted on the support means of wrapping roller 10 and will hence be affected by the adjustment thereof. However, it may be also mounted independent of the support means of roller 10.

5 The Operation of the Wrapping Machine Let it be assumed that an appropriate length of web 64 has been threaded into the machine so that the web spans the space between rollers 10 and 12, rests against or is close to the periphery of guide roller 14 and that Ere tip 112 is approximately located where shown in IG. 1.

Let it further be assumed that the stack of coins 76 or other body to be wrapped has been inserted between arms 72 and moved from the position of FIG. 1 which shows the Wrapping assembly in its open position ready for a wrapping operation, into the position of FIG. 2 or 3 by turning arms 72 in clockwise direction. The stack of coins when moving from the position of FIG. 1 toward and into the position of FIG. 2 or 3 takes along the respective portion of web 64 and the same is now held between wrapping rollers 10 and 12 and stack 76'. Arms '72 may be pivoted by hand, but generally the pivotal movement of the arms is derived from and controlled by the drive and control means 150. The cycle timer of the control means is so set that during the transport of the article to be wrapped into the wrapping position, cam rollers 46 and 106 travel on the flat portion of camming discs 48 and 108 which are rotated together with shaft 50. Accordingly, all the parts of the machine other than the components of the article feeding assembly remain in the position of FIG. 1 and web feed rollers 52 and 54 do not rotate. The operation is so timed that when stack 76 reaches the position of FIG. 2, cam roller 46 begins to ride upwardly on the slanted part of the carnming surface of cam disc 48. As a result, lever 40 is turned about shaft 42 in clockwise direction against the action of spring 47 thereby causing rotation of lever 34 about shaft 24 in counterclockwise direction. As a result, guide roller 14 is pivoted from the position of FIG. 1 into the position of FIG. 2 and while moving toward this position bends back the web portion protruding beyond wrapping roller 12 into the position of FIG. 2. In the position of FIG. 2, the stack is held between the three rollers 10, 12 and 14 and the web is sandwiched between the peripheries of the three rollers. Tip 112 is then located in the gap or slot defined between stack 76 and the first wrapping roller 10. The wrapping assembly is now closed.

The timing of the operation is such that cam roller 106 rides until the just described moment on the flat part of the camming surface of cam disc 108 also rotating with shaft '50, but now begins to ride upwardly on the slanted portion 105 of the camming surface. As a result, links 104 and are turned in clockwise direction and link 98 turns lever 82 also in clockwise direction. Consequently, blade 78 begins to move from the position of FIG. 1 past the position of FIG. 2 toward and into the position of FIG. 3. While moving into the position of FIG. 3, blade 78 presses against the web portion between roller 10 and stack 76 at or near tip 112 and forces the tip into the gap between stack 76 and roller 10, the latter being covered by the succeeding portion of web 64. All the parts then occupy temporarily the position shown in FIG. 3.

Several operations are now initiated simultaneously by the control and drive means 150. The wrapping rollers 10 and 12 begin to rotate in clockwise direction thereby rotating stack 76 and also indirectly guide roller 14. As a result, the paper web substantially completely encircling the stack, but having its tip 112 pressed between roller 10 and stack 76 and restrained further back between feed rollers 52 and 54, is pulled taut and finally torn off at cutter 56. The end of the now loose web portion is pulled in and wrapped around the stack of coins in several layers to form a tube-like wrapper. Thereupon, the beading device 25 (not shown in detail) is activated and the hooks thereon grip the protruding marginal portions of the still rotating wrapped web material and fold these portions inwardly at both ends of the stack to form the annular closing beads, of one bead only if an empty wrapper is to be produced.

Cam roller 106 is so timed that it will pass over the apex of the raised camming surface 105 and begin to ride down this surface just when rollers 10 and 12 start their rotation. Accordingly, lever 82 and with it inserting blade 78 are withdrawn from the position of FIG. 3 into the position of FIG. 1 by means of links 104, 104) and 98 and lever 82. Such withdrawal at that moment is necessary to avoid that blade 78 is dragged alOng the wrapping roller 10 and the stack and that the paper web is misguided due to friction. Simultaneously with wrapping rollers 10 and 12, feed roller 52 begins to rotate slowly and feeds in coaction with idler 54 a new length of the web which up to that moment has ended at cutter 56, past paper guide 58, inserting blade 78, shaft 80, distance rod 90 on one side and wrapping roller 16 on the other side until the new length of web paper is again in the position shown in FIG. 1. Rollers 52, 10 and 12 are now stopped by the cycle timer of the drive and control means 150. At the beginning of the rotation of the wrapping rollers, gripper arms 72 have been swung back from the forward or wrapping position into the loading position of FIG. 1 for loading with a new stack or other article to be wrapped.

After the wrapping rollers have stopped their rotation, cam roller 46 rides off the raised portion of the camming surface of cam disc 48 and spring 47 now draws levers 40 and 34 and with it guide roller 14 from the position of FIG. 3 back into the position of FIG. 1. The wrapped stack of coins is now released and falls down from the wrapping assembly.

The aforedescribed cycle of operations may be repeated indefinitely.

When it is desired to set the wrapping machine and the associated coin counting machine for coins of another diameter, it is not necessary either to exchange or readjust the web inserting assembly. All that is necessary is to vary the spacing between wrapping rollers 10 and 12. As previously explained, this is effected by rotating shafts 22 and 24 and with it levers 16, 18, etc. so that the stack of coins is always at about the same distance from beading means 25. By turning support arm 68 and with it cutter 56, the difference of the required length of the web due to the change in diameter is compensated. The paper tip 112 can be moved for all coin dimensions by blade 78 past guide roller 14 and will also always extend sufiiciently deep in the gap between the article and roller 10 to be seized by the insertion assembly and forced into the gap between roller 10 and the article to be wrapped.

To sum up, instead of the conventional arcuate inserting device as heretofore used which remained in the wrapping assembly during the wrapping operation and had to be exchanged when coins of different diameter were to be wrapped, one inserting or directing member can be used for all diameters of coins or other articles. The inserting member which is generally blade-shaped penetrates into the wrapping assembly only for a short time. It need never to be exchanged since it can be used for all sizes of coins or other articles. Consequently, there is no danger that the inserting member will be deformed or damaged in the event of a misadjustment of the wrapping assembly. Furthermore, the operation of the inserting assembly is more reliable than that of the inserting devices as heretofore known as it does not require an exact location of the web tip. Finally, it permits the use of smooth pivotal rollers with one or more recesses thereby simplifying and making less expensive the manufacture of the roller and improving the quality of the wrapper.

The inserting member may be introduced into the gap between the first wrapping roller 10 and the article for a short time either simultaneously with or shortly before the beginning of the rotation of the wrapping rollers.

The withdrawal of the inserting member after locating the paper tip need also not to be very accurately timed. As mentioned before, the web inserting assembly of the invention may also be used in connection with the wrapping of objects other than stacks of coins, it may be used for wrapping fiat objects and also for forming empty self-supporting wrappers on a core or mandrel.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A wrapping machine for wrapping stacks of coins and other articles and for forming self supporting wrappers about a mandrel, said machine comprising, in combination, a wrapping assembly and a web directing assembly, said wrapping assembly including a first wrapping roller and a second wrapping roller, said first and second wrapping rollers being rotatably mounted in spaced apart parallel relationship, feed means for directing a length of a web of pliable wrapping material suc cessively past said first and second wrapping rollers to a point beyond said wrapping roller, carrier means supported in spaced apart parallel relationship with said first and second wrapping rollers for supporting a body about which a wrapper is to be formed, said carrier means being pivotally mounted for movement about a wrapping positon in which a web portion spans the space between a wrapping roller and sandwiched between a facing peripheral surface of said wrapping roller and the body and a loading position in which the carrier means are spaced apart from the wrapping rollers and said web portion, a guide roller pivotally supported for movement between a retracted position spaced apart from the body in the wrapping position of the carrier means and a guide position, said guide roller during movement from said retracted position toward said guide position engaging said protruding web portion and bending the same against the periphery of the body across a gap defined by the body and said first wrapping roller; said web directing assembly including a web directing member, pivotal mounting means supporting said directing member for pivotal movement between a forward position and a withdrawn position, said web directing member during movement toward the forward position engaging the web portion bridging said gap and forcing said portion deeper into the gap so that the tip of said web portion is gripped between the first wrapping roller and said body upon rotation of the wrapping rollers; drive means for actuating said feed means, carrier means, guide roller, wrapping rollers, and mounting means for the web directing member; and control means controlling said drive means for actuating said feed means, carrier means, guide roller, wrapping rollers and said pivotal mounting means supporting said web directing member in predetermined sequence and predetermined time intervals.

2. A wrapping machine for wrapping stacks of coins and other articles and for forming self supporting wrappers about a mandrel, said machine comprising, in combination, a wrapping assembly and a web directing as sembly, said wrapping assembly including a first wrapping roller, 2. second wrapping roller, said rollers being rotatably mounted in spaced parallel relationship, feed means for feeding a length of a web of pliable wrapping material successively past said first and second wrapping rollers, and beyond the second roller, carrier means for supporting a body about which a wrapper is to be formed parallel to said wrapping rollers, said carrier means being mounted pivotal between a wrapping position in which a web portion spanning the spacing between the wrap ping rollers is sandwiched between a first peripheral surface of the wrapping rollers and the body and a loading position in which the carrier means is spaced apart from the wrapping rollers and said web portion, a guide roller pivotal between a retracted position spaced apart from the body in the wrapping position of the carrier means and a guide position, said guide roller when moving from the retracted position toward the guide position engaging said protruding web portion and bending the same back against the periphery of the body and across a gap defined by the body and the first wrapping roller, and said web directing assembly including a web directing member, pivotal mounting means supporting said directing member for pivoting between a forward position and a withdrawn position, said web directing member when moved toward the forward position engaging the web portion bridging said gap and forcing said portion deeper into the gap whereby the tip of said web portion is gripped between the first wrapping roller and the body upon rotation of the wrapping rollers; drive means for actuating said feed means, carrier means, guide roller, wrapping rollers, mounting means for the web directing member, control means controlling said drive means for actuating said feed means, carrier means, guide roller, wrapping rollers and said pivotal mounting means supporting the directing member in a predetermined sequence and at predeterined time intervals, linkage means having an input link and an output link, the position of the input link controlling the position of the output link, said output link supporting the directing member, and a cam means including a camrning member and a cam follower, said follower being mounted upon said input link for controlling the position thereof and the position of the camming memher in response to said follower being controlled by said control means thereby controlling the position of said input link.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said directing member is in the form of an elongated member of substantially greater length than width.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said directing member is in the form of a blade disposed parallel to the axes of the wrapping rollers and facing said gap with one of its longitudinal edges for entering the gap with said edge.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the entering edge of said blade is tapered.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said directing member is in the form of an elongated blade disposed parallel to the axes of the wrapping rollers, the side of the blade facing the carrier means for said body being concavely curved.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said directing member is in the form of a thin roll disposed parallel to the axes of said wrapping rollers.

8. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said di recting member is in the form of several thin rolls disposed paraliel to the axes of the wrapping rollers in longitudinal alignment.

9. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said directing member is pivotally mounted on the mounting means therefor and a loaded spring means urges the di recting member toward the web portion bridging the gap when said directing member is in the forward position.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising support means supporting said first wrapping roller, said support means being adjustable for varying the parallel spacing between the two wrapping rollers, said pivotal mounting means for the directing member being secured to the support means of the first wrapping roller for movement in unison therewith whereby the directing member remains in a substantially constant pivotal position in reference to the first wrapping roller for any adjusted position of said roller.

11. An assembly according to claim 2 and further comprising support means supporting said wrapping roller, said support means being adjustable for varying the parallel spacing between the two wrapping rollers, saidoutput link beink linked to said support means of the first wrapping roller for movement in unison therewith thereby varying the position of the output link corresponding to the adjustment of the first wrapping roller also.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweden Aug. 4, 1936 

